Distribution system

Abstract

The present invention promotes the use of contents distribution by multicast, and enables users to stop viewing without needing special processing in a terminal, and to restart viewing in the same terminal as that at stop time or a different terminal, thus increasing users' usability and use opportunities. In a distribution system including a service server, a multicast distribution server, and a unicast distribution server, the service server, in a first access from a PC, selects the multicast distribution server as a distribution server, and selects the unicast distribution server as a distribution server after stopping.

1 . A distribution system that distributes contents data to terminals, comprising the steps of:
 for a start request from one the terminals, transmitting first contents data by multicast distribution;   for a stop request from the one in the course of transmitting the first contents data, stopping transmitting the first contents data; and   for a restart request from one the terminals, transmitting the first contents data by unicast distribution from a stop position when the stop request was received, or from near the stop position.   
   
   
       2 . The distribution system according to  claim 1 , in the course of data transmission by the unicast distribution, for a stop request from the one under data transmission, stopping transmitting the first contents data. 
   
   
       3 . The distribution system according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 setting a section from a point forward of an end point of contents to the end point as an entry prohibition section to prohibit stopping, for each of contents; and   in the course of transmitting the first contents data by multicast distribution or unicast distribution, for a stop request from the one under data transmission, rejecting to stop transmitting the first contents data in the entry prohibition section.   
   
   
       4 . The distribution system according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 setting a section from a start point of contents to a point backward of the start point as an entry prohibition section to prohibit stopping, for each of contents; and   in the course of transmitting the first contents data by multicast distribution, for a stop request from the one under data transmission, rejecting to stop transmitting the first contents data in the entry prohibition section.   
   
   
       5 . The distribution system according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 setting a contents restart count for each of contents;   upon receiving the restart request, determining whether the restart count is exceeded; and   upon exceeding the restart count, rejecting to stop transmitting the first contents data.   
   
   
       6 . The distribution system according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 setting a contents restart time limit for each of contents;   upon receiving the restart request, determining whether the restart time limit is exceeded; and   upon exceeding the restart time limit, rejecting to stop transmitting the first contents data.   
   
   
       7 . The distribution system according to  claim 1 , when receiving the restart request, transmitting information indicating from which position the first contents are to be transmitted, to the terminal. 
   
   
       8 . The distribution system according to  claim 1 , when receiving the restart request, transmitting restartable count information and restart time limit information of the first contents data to the one. 
   
   
       9 . A distribution system that distributes contents data to terminals, comprising:
 a service server which receives purchase information, stop indication information and restart password information from one of the terminals, transmits contents information or the restart password information to the one, and exchanges an inquiry with a unicast distribution server;   a multicast distribution server which distributes contents from the beginning to the one; and   said unicast distribution server which distributes said contents from around a stop position to one of the terminals.